Center for Arkansas Legal Services

If you need help, then the Center for Arkansas Legal Services may be able to assist you! This agency helps low income Arkansas residents who meet income and asset limits.

Their ability to help you may depend on the type of legal problem you’re experiencing. They prioritize service for basic needs such as housing, income, medical care and family safety. It is important to realize that they do not assist with criminal cases except for criminal eviction and record expungement.

In order to apply for services, you can call the HelpLine at (800) 952-9243 or apply online by clicking here. You will need to know your name, address and county. You will also be asked for the name of the person or business that is causing your legal problem, the sources of all your income, the amount you get from each source and the total amount of money in all your bank accounts.

Legal Aid of Arkansas

Depending on what your legal needs are, you may qualify for assistance from Legal Aid of Arkansas. This agency focuses on cases that involve safe and affordable housing, domestic violence protection, economic justice and consumer rights. They do not assist with any criminal matters or traffic tickets.

What you will receive will depend on your situation and the details of your case. They may provide free legal advice over the phone. They may provide a brief service, such as form completion, referral to other attorneys or even full representation. It all depends on your specific case.

In order to qualify for assistance from Legal Aid of Arkansas, you will need to have a total income that is equal to or less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. They do not include SNAP benefits, housing vouchers, tax refunds, gifts, insurance payment, or other non-cash benefits as income.

There are several subdivisions and affiliates of these agencies.

Unlike other states, the Arkansas legal aid system is very complicated and intertwined. Although we’ve found extensive lists of agencies in other states, it appears that most of the Arkansas legal aid clinics are affiliated and coordinated through the primary agencies listed above. However, we’ve listed their affiliates here just in case this information may be helpful to some of you.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC)

Taxpayers who speak English as a second language (ESL) or are low income may be able to receive help from LITC. This agency provides information about taxpayer rights and may even provide pro bono representation in tax disputes with the IRS. They may assist with tax levy actions, collection alternatives and more. On their website, they claim to help taxpayers avoid $1,000,000 in federal tax each year!

Where else can I find legal aid in Arkansas?

If you’re not necessarily low income, you can still receive free and reduced-cost legal services if you qualify for one of these programs!

Arkansas Army National Guard Office of Legal Assistance (Soldiers, retirees and dependents only)

Soldiers, retirees and their dependents may be able to receive free legal advice and document preparation assistance from the Arkansas Army National Guard Office of Legal Assistance!

This office can help you with many legal things. Among other things, this office may provide free legal counsel, draft letters, notary services, negotiations, explanations of legal documents and referrals to other attorneys. They can also provide free wills and powers of attorney. They can help you with estate issues, family matters, consumer issues, landlord-tenant issues, real estate matters and more. However, this office will not provide representation in civilian courts or give advice concerning income producing activities.

The office is open on weekdays between 7 am and 3 pm for consultations. On their website, they strongly encourage clients to make an appointment by calling (501) 212-5040.

Disability Rights Arkansas (disabled persons only)

This organization provides legal advocacy and representation for disabled people who are facing legal challenges that are directly related to their disability. Due to limited resources, they are very selective about the cases they take. They will only assist with matters that are directly related to your disability, such as discrimination.

Disability Rights Arkansas will not assist with disability benefit applications, public assistance benefit applications, or criminal cases. In addition, they do not assist with any family law, estate planning, consumer rights cases, or criminal proceedings. They also do not assist with guardianship, tax issues or workers compensation.

Wills for Heroes (First Responders & Spouses Only)

This is one of my favorite programs that offer legal aid in Arkansas! This service provides a free estate plan to first responders . They specifically serve police officers, firefighters and emergency health care workers. You can see upcoming events here.

Don’t qualify for legal aid in Arkansas? Try this!

If you need Arkansas legal aid, then the first thing you should do is call (800) 9-LAW-AID. This line can help you connect with low income legal aid serves throughout the state.

However, you may also be able to receive assistance from Schmidt Law Firm in Cabot, Arkansas. According to their website, they are willing to sit down and talk, free of charge, to any potential client. Just call (501) 843-7576 to talk to an attorney or schedule a free in-person consultation. The consultation is absolutely free and there’s no obligation.

We have received tremendous help in our area from attorneys that offer free consultations. You can always check for attorneys that offer free 30 minute consultations near you!

About The Author

I hate being broke - and I always have too much month at the end of my money. As a journalist, I decided it was time to use my skills to investigate ways that my family (and yours) could thrive despite our less-than-ideal incomes... and that's how Low Income Relief started.